Louis de Jager held a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters.
The South African’s round of 67 on Friday, which included six birdies and a bogey, left him on nine under along with defending champion Adrian Otaegui and and Jeong weon Ko.
Otaegui finished his second-round 69 with a flourish to remain bogey-free for the week.
Starting the day two shots off the lead after kicking off the week with a flawless 66, home favourite Otaegui opened his second round with a tap-in birdie but had to wait patiently for his next one after making 14 straight pars.
The four-time DP World Tour winner missed a series of birdie opportunities during that run but he made no mistake from 20 feet on the 16th green before making it two in a row at the 17th.
He had an outside chance to complete his birdie hat-trick and take the outright lead on the 18th but instead settled for a two-putt par and a clean card.
Frenchman Ko had to return to the course on Friday morning to complete his first round, birdieing the last to sign for a spotless 67 before coming back soon after to card a second-round 68 which contained five birdies and one bogey.
Ko’s fellow morning starter De Jager had set the early target.
“It was a bit easier today, especially that front nine,” De Jager said. “The front nine was just a little breeze so I took advantage of that and then I just held on during the back nine, it’s what you have to do.”
The trio were one shot ahead of New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who followed up his first-round 70 with a 66.
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– Edited report from DP World Tour
Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
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